The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Killer Angels
Book Review: More than names and numbers
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a Cadet Candidate at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. For far too long, the Battle of Gettysburg remained nothing to me but names and numbers in a history book. After reading The Killer Angels, I gained a whole new perspective on the events of that battle. Names now have faces, actions have background, and I understand thelong and tedious process each decision had. The characters have voices, from which I can learn lessons from the past. As a student of military strategy and leadership, as well as a veteran, I view this book as a true exhibition of duty, honor, and patriotism.Book Review: Not as good as expected
Summary: 3 Stars
The reviews were very good, that is why I bought the book. Moved back and forth from scene to scene/character to character too much, not much character development. I didn't feel like I got to know any of them well. I'm reading Gods and Generals now. Much better book.Book Review: One of my favorite reads for 2009
Summary: 5 Stars
I know it's early in the year but I'm almost positive I'll be ranking this as one of my reading highlights for 2009.Book Review: One of the greatest historical war novels ever?
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the greatest historical war novels ever?
I was so moved by this novel that I wanted to read everything else written by Mr. Shaara. In 60 years of "bookish" reading of thousands of books and magazines, this book stands out: It's presently in my "Top 100". I would enjoy re-reading it.
Most highly recommended. The quality of the writing is wonderful, the tragic and heroic stories and lessons from this battle are most worthwhile, and in my opinion Mr. Shaara richly deserved the Pulitzer Prize awarded to him.
Book Review: Patience will be a rewarded.
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this novel, absolutely loved it--but I'm not sure why. Like a lot of people have said, it IS slow-going, and the first half or so of it involves troop movements and the ruminations of various characters. Structurally, it's also sometimes unwieldy, especially its clumsy prologue that tells you straight out who the principal characters will be. Yet . . . the story works, and I think it's because of the character development, esp. Shaara's descriptions of Lee, Longstreet, and Joshua Chamberlain. Shaara takes his time developing these 3 principals, and by the time the story gets underway midway through the novel, you know them intimately in a way that's rare in fiction. And since you know them, you care about them on a deep level, and you just want to see what'll happen--even though the conclusion (the South's rout by the North) is foregone. So . . . my advice for reading this novel: read 20 pages of it. If it doesn't get you within the first 20 pages, it never will. But, if you're like me, you'll love the first 20 pages and their deceptively simple but beautiful prose and their well-defined characters. It's a beautiful novel. (One particular moment was very effective: Chamberlain's defense of Little Round Top. Wow! What a scene!)